Boarding your comic book in a bag or sleeve provides many benefits. Given the boards are stiff enough (most usually are), they support the comic book spine and maintain a flat, stiffened position which prevents bending and creasing. Ideally, the board should be acid free and archival safe, and should help trap and neutralise migrating acids; these properties prevent damage.
Acid-free vs Ordinary Cardboard
Yes, a piece of cardboard is certainly stiff and cheap, but it has none of the properties that protect the comic from damage. Cardboard of the ordinary type has a natural acid that, over time, will deteriorate the paper and colour.
Comic book boards with Micro-chamber technology have a molecular sieve that can trap migrating acids from the comic’s paper and neutralize them. A buffered acid-free board is also efficient in preventing acid migration, but cannot trap nor neutralise said acids. Standard comic book boards generally have a buffer coating on one side to create a pH neutral in an effort to not cause harm to the comic book.
Yellowing on a standard comic book backer due to age and environment. Standard boards are best used for short term storage.
Acid-free vs Archival-safe
The terms ‘acid-free’ and ‘archival-safe’ are used interchangeably by backing board manufacturers, but they are not the same thing.
Acid-free means that your board is manufactured with a minimum pH of 7 or higher throughout to maintain pH neutral. These are generally white on both sides, lignin free and contaminant free. Fun fact: the best boards are actually made from cotton!
Acid free may also describe boards that are manufactured with an alkaline buffer coating on one side. These have a gloss coat on one side (a smoother side) to neutralise the acid; it should be the side touching the comic, not the matte side. However, this does not guarantee that your item won’t become acidic later. A better description would be ‘acid-free at time of manufacture‘. Backing boards with a glossy side are not always acid free; they are suitable for short term storage and can last longer when kept in a safe environment.
Foxing and ink transfer on a standard backing board due to poor environment and age. Coating worn away due to acidity.
Refer to the following link for an interesting PH test on different backing boards
Recommendations
Short-Term Storage
- Boards with 3% or more buffer coating on one side to create pH neutral (may contain acid)
- Usually 24 – 30 point thick
- White on one side
- Best to replace between 5 – 7 years depending on the environmental conditions
- Smooth side of the board goes against the comic.
Medium-Term Storage >7yrs
- Boards made of cotton are usually the best; boards that are acid free 3-5% alkaline buffered throughout can be just as good
- Usually have a pH >8
- Generally white on both sides but there are several colours available through various manufacturers (be aware that colouring may render the board unsuitable for archival storage)
- Usually 24 – 40 point.
Long-Term – Indefinite Storage 50+ yrs.
- 100% alpha cellulose board with 3-5% alkaline buffered throughout
- Lignin-free, contaminant-free
- pH >8, acid-free
- Best boards are made from cotton and with a molecular sieve that can trap migrating acids in paper and neutralize it
- Usually 24 – 40 point
- These should meet some sort of international standard like the Library of Congress Archival Standards for indefinite storage, the PAT Test or ISO 9706 Long-life; papers displaying this symbol are guaranteed by international standards to last up to 100 years.
Preserver Haven has a wide range of boards to suit most situations: the basic short-term board (BCW, Ultimate Guard), to the medium-long term Stalward Premium and Stalward Elite range. The extra cost of higher quality boards is a truly beneficial investment; it saves having to continually replace cheap boards, and grants a piece of mind knowing that your comic is well preserved.
Foxing and Other Damaging Effects
Using standard boards in poor storage environments, or for extended periods of time without changing, can result in effects such as foxing and ink transfer (also called ‘ghosting’). This can cause damage to the comic on a molecular and visual level. It increases the acidic degradation process, thus destroying to paper of the comic too early in its standard deterioration timeline.
Foxing and ink transfer on standard backing boards. Illustrations of the original comic are somewhat visible on the board. Results are due to poor storage and age.
To prevent this from happening, consider the tips that have been provided in this article and others in the preservation insight blog. Namely, consider our premium and elite products, as they bolster protection more than standard comic boards.